Everg reen, or Ever-Plastic : Which sounds more natural?

ErNJoyrNc all that nature has to offer is a pastime that spans I-rgenerations-camping, hiking, good old fashioned playrng. It is a precious resource that is appreciated without question.

Your customers are understandably concerned about ensuring the natural beauty they're surrounded by today will be there for their children and grandchildren. They often support environmental stewardship through their purchases. Those intentions, however well grounded, can sometimes be led astray.

Using a practice called "greenwashing," companies will make claims about their products to position them as environmentally friendly. Under closer scrutiny, though, those claims simply don't hold up. Take, for example, composite decking. When it debuted on the market, it was hailed as the perfect solution: rerycling products to create something enduring.

Time will tell on the lasting qualities of composite/plastic decking, but compared to a rratlural product like redwood, how does it fare in its environmental friendliness? The California Redwood Association recently commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment to learn more. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific technique commonly used to quan!ry the environmental footprint of producing and consuming products we use in our everyday life.

This LCA quantified the environmental impacts of redwood decking production and use over aZ5-year life span in what is known as a cradle to grave LC,A. The results, compared to the environmental footprint of composite decking, are reveahng. Air Pollution/Carbon Footprint: Cnbon footprints are a quick way to me'asure the environmental impact of a product. The beauty of redwood trees is that they absorb more carbon than they produce, and continue to store that carbon once it is part of your home. 1,000 redwood trees store as much as 1,000 tons of carbon; 1,000 composite decks prodace as much carbon as 1,000 cars.

Recycling: We all know recycling is a common sustainability practice. Composite decking is made from recycled materials, in fact. But composite decking is not recycled. On the other hand, the lumber from a redwood deck is completely recyclable.

Water Pollution: Water plays a role in how both redwood and composite decking is made. How water is used in each case is dramatically different. Redwood trees absorb water for growth through fog and rain; water is used minimally in the milling process. Composite decking, on the other hand, dumps pollutants into water during manufacturing.

Energ,t: A true measure of a product's sustainability is how much energy is required to create it. In some cases, energy consumption can rule out any perceived environmental benefit. Redwood uses solar energy to grow trees and other forms to harvest and mill lumber, whereas composite material needs ten times more energy than redwood to produce decking materials.

Grou,n and harvested under the most stringent forestry regulations in the world, redwood is grown almost entirely on private commercial lands zoned specifically for timber production. That's what makes redwood one of the most protected timber species in the wodd. The careful management of redwood stock, combined with its proven environmental benefits, underscore the simplicity and logic that the best practices for environmental stewardship come from Nature itself.

Tbe Califtmia Redwood Association is one of tbe oldest trade associations in tbe lumber industry. Since 1916, its priflmry mission bas been to promote redwood products and educate builders and consumers on the aduantages ofusing redwood. To read an executiae summary of tbe I{}A study, uisit uww.rootedintruth.org.

SST Buys TJ Shear Brace

Simpson Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Ca., acquired the TJ Shear Brace line from Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., to complement its Strong-Wall shear wall line.

SST will now handle all shear brace sales. while Weyco continues to distribute the products in its 22 U.S. markets.

SST and Weyerhaeuser have worked together for more than three decades, beginning with the collaboration on new products for the Trus Joist engineered wood products line.

A Simpson Strong-Tie branded shear wall will be launched later this year. Until that time, the product brand will remain TJ Shear Brace. SST sales and technical reps will be working closely with Weyerhaeuser to ensure a smooth transition for customers and will notify customers when thc product conversion is complete.

Lumber Directories Released

Random Lengths has released the latest editions of two leading reference guides for the North American softwood forest products industry.

The 2013 Big Book's 832 pages contain 4,158 listings of U.S.,

Canadian, and offshore softwood companies and 16, 063 personnel-including addresses, phone and fax numbers, email addresses and websites, company profiles, and other valuable information.

The 2012 Yearbook features 300plus pages of data and price histories for the past I I years on nearly 300 key lumber and panel items. Also included are graphs tracking monthly price averages for the past fiive years. economic data such as housing starts and home mortgage rates for 2009-2012, a nine-year market chronology, and an international section with price histories, trade-weighted dollar information, and export volumes by species and destination.

ALSC OK's SP Design Values

Effective June l. the American Lumber Standard Committee Board of Review has approved the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau's design value changes for all sizes and grades of visually graded southern pine dimension lumber.

"Southern pine producers and their customers are pleased with the ALSC Board of Review's decision on new design values," said Cathy Kaake, v.p. of technical marketing for the Southern Forest Products Association, who testified at the ALSC hearing on Jan. 30. "A June I effective date provides time for an orderly transition to the new design values."

The intent of a transition period is to minimize project delays and supply chain disruptions by providing time to manage design value changes. Producers and key customer groups should use this period to evaluate and prepare for the potential impact on their businesses.

"Throughout this transition period, SFPA will provide both the current design values as well as the ALSCapproved new design values," Kaake added. Detailed Q&As, as well as span tables based on both current and the new design values, will be available at SFPA's www.southernpine.com during the transition period.

Following publication of SPIB's Supplement 13 to the Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber, 2002 Edition, the American Wood Council will work with the International Code Council to incorporate the new design values into span tables in the 20 l5 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code.

Bob Beckstrom has retired after 45 years from Beckstrom & Sons, Menlo Park, Ca., and turned the business over to his son. Rob Beckstrom.

Ray Barbee, ex-RISI, has joined The California Redwood Co., Eureka, Ca., as v.p. of sales & marketing.

Clark Taylor, Champion Lumber, Riverside, Ca., is retiring after 28 years.

Ed Winkler is now business mgr. for Bluelinx, San Diego, Ca.

James Paul "J.P." Slocum, ex-Ashby Lumber, has joined Fiberon, as product specialist for Northern California. He takes over for Greg Reed, who was promoted to regional mgr. for Montana. Vann Lanz is now regional sales mgr. for the Pacific Northwest, based in Seattle, Wa.

Randy Johnson has been promoted to general mgr. at Polar Supply, Anchorage, Ak.

Ed Moore, ex-Dry Creek Hardwoods, has been named v.p. of forestry for Southwest Forest Products. Flagstaff, Az.

Scott Church, ex-Exterior Wood, and Stan Woerner, ex-Western Plywood, have joined the sales staff at Redwood Empire, Morgan Hill, Ca.

Michael Murray, ex-A.C. Houston Lumber, is now Southwest regional sales mgr. for MiTek division USP Structural Connectors, based in Las Vegas, Nv.

Larry Petree has been promoted to sales mgr. at Mary's River Lumber, Montesano, Wa. Joe Petree, exOrePac Distribution, has joined the sales force. Jolene Bungum is now a member of the national sales staff in Corvallis, Or.

Mike Garrity, ex-Barr Lumber, is now in inside sales at Capital Lumber. Chino. Ca.

Steve Tavernier has been named director of purchasing for Roseburg Forest Products, Dillard, Or.

Dan Alar has been appointed director of purchasing at Bridgewell Resources, Tigard, Or. Dave Cornell, ex-Hampton Affiliates, is new to hardwood sales. Philip Ast, ex-Ast Trading Co.. is now in import sales at Denver, Co.

Jeff Johnson, ex-Georgia-Pacific, has been named president of SierraPine Ltd., Roseville, Ca., replacing Jim Skinner, who retired after 13 years with the company.

Daniel Skudstad is new to sales at Norman Distribution, Medford, Or.

Matthew Jeffries has joined ProBuild, Portland, Or., as sales mgr.

Matt Carlton has moved from millwork to dry dimension lumber sales at Sierra Pacific Industries, Redding, Ca.

Henry Yelazquez is now plant mgr. of Pacific Wood Preserving, Silver Springs, Nv.

Jeff Groom, ex-Timber Products Co., has been named chief financial officer for South Coast Lumber Co., Brookings, Or.

Jon Friesen, Parr Lumber, has relocated from West Linn. Or.. to manage the NE Portland, Or., yard.

Jeff Morris, ex-Freres Lumber, is now trading OSB and plywood at Buckeye Pacific, Portland, Or.

Greg Vaudt is now with the Portland, Or., trading division of Amerhart, Green Bay, Wi.

David Garcia is new to window sales at R&K Building Supply, Gilbert, Az.

Eric J. c..lrr"., has been promoted to president, chief operating officer, and a director of Potlatch Corp., Spokane, Wa.

Hassan ttHarry" El-Kara has been named general mgr. of Tropial Roofing Products, La Mirada, Ca.

Richard F. Fleming, ex-USG, has been elected to the board of directors at Boise Cascade, Boise. Id. Adam Clodfelter, ex-Precision Estimating, is a new EWP designer in Vancouver, Wa.

Darryl Hopkins has been appointed manufacturing supervisor at Milgard Windows & Doors, Simi Valley, Ca.

Rick LaChance, ex-Zytech Building Systems, has joined Production Framing, Sacramento, Ca., as estimating/purchasing mgr.

Rhea Stumm has been named mgr. of Habitat for Humanity's ReStore discount LBM outlet in San Bernardino, Ca.

Kevin Ardt is new to Lynden Door, Lynden, Wa., as v.p.-business administration.

Don Demens was promoted to chief executive officer of Western Forest Products, Vancouver, B.C., succeeding Dominic Gammiero, who remains chairman of the board.

Steve Barber, ex-WoodEx Industries, is a new panel buyer for Taiga Building Products, Burnaby, B.C.

Ted Seraphim has been promoted to c.e.o. for West Fraser Timber, Vancouver, B.C., succeeding Hank Ketcham, who is now executive chairman.

Todd Harkness has been promoted to president of the LBM and hardlines division of ECi Software Solutions, Fort Worth, Tx., replacing Scott Stanford, who left after 2l years to pursue other interests.

Andrew de Vries has joined the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Washington, D.C., as v.p.-conservation, indigenous & government relations, overseeing the SFI conservation program in Canada and marketing the standard to Native Americans, First Nations, and Metis groups.

Jon Case, mgr., Parr Lumber, Burns, Or., was honored as Boss of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Rex Easley is the new transportation safety director at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Two Coat Exterior Prime

0ur two-coat process starts with an al.kyd seater to btock tannin migration, fottowed by a high-performance acrylic primer. The resutt: RESERVE quatity, inside and out.

Superior Wood

Made of quatity, clear, finger-jointed Western Red Cedar or Redwood, these products are naturatty designed for exterior use-both soecies are ideat for endurino extreme weather.

Surfacing + Sizes + Lengths

RESERVE oroducts come in a wide range of sizes, lengths and finishes. Whether the project catts for 51S2E or S4S. we offer tengths ranging from 16' to 20'. Pattern stock is atso avaitabie.

Ix4 - 1-xI2 s/ayl, - s/ax!)

2x4 - 2xt2

The Finest Stock, The Best Coating

Our Siskiyou Forest Products RESERVE line ls specially manufactured and treated to create the highest quality product available. Using state-of-the-art application and curing equipment, our premium Western Red Cedar and Redwood stock is made to last for many generations. We are proud to offer a beautiful, durable product that is ready for installation and final painting the moment it reaches the craftsmen.

By Dennis Connelly